Russell Cave Elementary School, Lexington KY

Original Research by School Decision on Russell Cave Elementary School

Russell Cave Elementary School is a regular public school in Lexington, Kentucky, serving students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It operates within Fayette County Public Schools. The school’s enrollment is modest for its grade band, and it draws from the northern part of the consolidated city-county.

On the Kentucky Summative Assessment, the school’s proficiency rates in the most recent testing year were low across all subjects and tested grade levels. In third grade, about a quarter of students met proficiency in math and slightly more than a quarter in reading. By fourth grade, fewer than one in five were proficient in math and reading, and in science the share was lower still. Fifth-grade reading proficiency matched the fourth-grade rate, while the math result for that grade was suppressed from public reporting. Social studies proficiency in fifth grade was very low. Because the school serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report; academic performance for the early primary grades (PK through 2) is not captured by state testing, so families may want to ask the school directly about early literacy and numeracy measures.

Nearly three-quarters of the student body qualify for free or reduced-price meals, indicating a high level of economic need. The student population is predominantly Hispanic, with a meaningful Black enrollment and a smaller White share; Asian and multiracial students make up a very small portion. Information on special education and English learner enrollment was not available in the data; parents may wish to ask about these programs and supports directly.

The school sits in Lexington, a consolidated city-county that blends a major university presence with the global thoroughbred horse industry. The city’s largest employer is the University of Kentucky. Lexington is largely auto-oriented, though downtown has a walkable core with entertainment and civic venues. The city manages growth through an urban growth boundary, the first of its kind in the nation, which preserves open space and horse farms while concentrating development within a defined service area. Home values in the school’s ZIP code are above the state median, with moderate year-over-year appreciation, and rents are similarly above the state figure. The local housing market reflects the broader Lexington metro area, which includes several surrounding counties.

No recent district-level developments, such as bond measures or new school construction, appeared in the available public records for this write-up, so that context is left out rather than speculated upon.

For a parent considering Russell Cave Elementary, the picture is one of a high-poverty school where state test results are well below typical benchmarks. The academic pathway through the elementary years shows low proficiency in reading, math, science, and social studies. Families who prioritize strong test scores or a more affluent peer environment may want to explore other options in Fayette County. Those who are comfortable with a high-needs setting and want to learn more about the school’s specific intervention programs, after-school supports, or family engagement efforts should reach out directly to the school for those details.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 324%

School 24% · District 45% · ▼ 21 pts below district

▼ 19 pts below state median · ▼ 17 pts below county median

Grade 417%

School 17% · District 49% · ▼ 32 pts below district

▼ 28 pts below state median · ▼ 34 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 328%

School 28% · District 50% · ▼ 22 pts below district

▼ 19 pts below state median · ▼ 16 pts below county median

Grade 419%

School 19% · District 53% · ▼ 34 pts below district

▼ 31 pts below state median · ▼ 30 pts below county median

Grade 519%

School 19% · District 53% · ▼ 34 pts below district

▼ 32 pts below state median · ▼ 33 pts below county median

Science

Grade 414%

School 14% · District 40% · ▼ 26 pts below district

▼ 24 pts below state median · ▼ 18 pts below county median

Social studies

Grade 54%

School 4% · District 43% · ▼ 39 pts below district

▼ 34 pts below state median · ▼ 37 pts below county median

This schoolFayette County, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.